Police Warn Of Rise In Williamson County 'Jugging' Incidents

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The Round Rock Police Department is warning residents to the danger of "jugging" — a trending crime on the rise that occurs when criminals lying in wait follow people exiting banks in order to rob them.

Police said there have been multiple instances of the scourge in the Round Rock area in a recent uptick of incidents. One such incident occurred earlier this year in Cedar Park, leading to the arrest of two men in nearby Leander.

Criminals intent on jugging primarily focus on customers exiting buildings with bank bags, envelopes and even coin boxes, according to police. Most jugging crimes occur at retail or commercial businesses to which residents arrive after visiting their bank, according to police.

While it's hard to predict a jugging incident, there are some potential tell-tale signs, police advised:

• In arriving at the bank parking lot, scan the area for cars with occupants sitting inside without exiting.
• Check for cars abruptly changing parking spaces, particularly closer to front doors of a bank or in nearer proximity to an ATM — red flags suggesting juggers are ready to pounce.
• Cars with darkly tinted windows offering no visibility of their occupants is another red flag of which residents should be aware.

Police also offered tips to prevent being victimized:

• Keep money out of sight upon entering and exiting a bank.
• Don't count your money out in the open, either inside a bank or outside of it.
• Make th trip to the bank the final errand of the day.
• Call 911 if you suspect you're being followed.

Two men were arrested in Cedar Park in connection to an April 9 jugging case. Officers responded to the incident at around 2:45 p.m. when a witness saw several men break into a vehicle at a Home Depot before driving off. A police officer spotted the suspects' vehicle and pulled it over in Leander along the 183A toll road frontage, police said in a press advisory at the time.

One of the passengers jumped out of the vehicle, running into a wooded area. After setting up a perimeter and securing a K9, police ultimately called off the search. But the remaining men, Jacquis Washington , 28, and Chrisholl Lewis, 27, were arrested at the scene. Both were booked into Williamson County Jail on burglary of a vehicle charges, and Lewis was found to have a parole violation from a Harris County burglary of a habitation, police said.

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